On the origin of lawyers as sharks

The word "shark" entered the English language in the 1560s, well after professional lawyers emerged in the thirteenth century. The term "shark lawyer" has been used to describe lawyers for centuries and has multiple origins:

• Brutal killers: The term may come from the idea that lawyers are ruthless killers.
• Fierce and powerful: The term may also come from the idea that lawyers are fierce and powerful, with no negative connotation.
• Preying on the weak: Some lawyers prey on people who are in trouble or in a difficult situation.
• Herman Melville: Herman Melville's reference to lawyers as sharks actually turns the pejorative around. Melville called lawyers "sea attorneys" and described them as "grasping, rapacious varlets".
• Symbolism: Sharks are symbols of virility internationally.
• Public satire: For centuries public satire has targeted the integrity of lawyers.